Flying-machine.



E, W. SMITH.

FLYING Mmmm.

APPLIOATON FILED EEBJS, 1910.

Patented Mar. 16, 1915.

4 SHEETSSHEET l.

3&3 59 5536 Y ha l *gm-55 35 g J0 INVENTOR ATTORNEY E. W. SMXTH.

-LYING MACHINE.

AYPLIOATION FILED FEBB, 1910. v 3 l ggggg, K* Patented Mar. 16, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTOR E. W. SMTH. FLYING MACHINE.

APPLEGATION FILED mima, 1910.

191 32,288. Y Patented Mar. i6, 1915.

n 4 SHEETS- SHEET 3.

INVENTOR VWITNESSES y A www By M( E. W. SMITH. FLYING MACHINE. APPLIOATION FILED mima, 1910.

L1 32,28. Mtented Mar.16,1915.

4 SHEETSSHEET 4.

lNvENToR ATTQRNEY WIT/'VESSES narices-anonima.

Application lc .February 18, 1910. Serial EE0.

wann il/"sufren:

d States, and

'a resident oi they city of Philadelphia,

county of Philadelphia, and State of lennsylrania, have invented ceri n newl and usefnlL lmorovements' in lilying-lvlacliines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying Vdrawings. v

T his invention particularly relates lo ilying machines of the class wherein the weight is sustained by one or more aeroplanes propelled Athrough the air at a slight' angle o incidence oy any suitable power, or by 'the 'force of gravity.

ln apparatus of liis class, heretofore'V constructed.' the lateral stability is pbained by the relative twisting or'warping extremities of the Wings, or of small auxiliary surfaces forming Wing tips. The resull in the relativo change of resistance of the opposite sides of the'rnachine eiects a constanttendency to swerve from the straightl course, which musi. be overcome by operating the rudder simultaneously wie. the warping of it may be seen that While the progress of the machine may not ne directly retarded by the warping of the plane or the auxiliary Win55 tips. it is materially retarded by the action of the rudder, which is swung against the air to maintain the machine in itsconrse, when said warping or twisting is effected. l

In this invention any tendencyY to unduly retard the progress of the machine 0r to sn'erre said machine from the straivht course due to the operation of the stabilizing mechanism is eliminated or rendered negligible.

The principal objects of this invention are. to provide means for maintaining the lateral stability of a machine, without increasing the resistance of the forward progress of said machine; to provide means to vary the eiiectire Weight supporting s11rface of the respective outer' margins or wings or" the aeroplane of said machine. without effecting the rigidity of said aeroplane; and to provide means whereby the increase in eective Weight supporting sur- 'lace at one end of said aeroplane contain? poraneously eects a similar decrease in the eective Weight supporting sur-if ce at the Speccaton of Letters Estant.

of the the Wings or Wing tips. Thiis,

`|che iront portion of said v the aeroplane and its relatively movable' auxiliary planes; Fig.

remains nel?. is, isis, 544,573.

other end of said plane, Without producingV a tendency in the machine to enerve from the straight course. n

The preferredform of this invention hereinafter described, comprises a substantially inflexible aeroplane supplemented by comparatively small relatively movable' auxiliary planes forming tipsrioaal to the outer margins or lateral Wings of said aeroplane and arranged to be shifed relatively thereto but maintained in 'substantially parallel relation therewith, seid auxiliary planes being so arranged as to be capable of closely approaching the main aeroplane, their snrfscesrcay be shielded and rendered ineffective, so as to jpresent to the supporting componenisof the air, an elfectiye surface equivalent to the aeroplane per se.

This invention further includes the varions novel features of construction and arrangement hereinafter more denitely speci fied and claimed.

In lie accompanying drawings7 Figure l is a side elevation of a flying machine of the monoplane type, conveniently embodying my improvements; Fig. 2 is a planY View of the machine shown in Fig. l; Fig, 8 is a front elevation of said machine; Fig. is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation of machine showing 5 1s a fragmentary ViewY similar to Fig. il, but showing the relan tively movable auxiliary planes shifted to increase the efectiveneight supporting sgrace; Fig. 6 is a View similar to Fig. i showing the vauxiliary planes collapsed and shielded by the aeroplane; Fig. 7 is a side elevation of a `flying machine of the monoplane type embodying a modified form of my invention; Fig. 8 is a yplan View of the machine shown in Fig. 7; Fig. J9 is a front elevation of the machine shown in Figs. 7 and 8; Fig. l0 is a plan'view of a flying machine of the biplane type embodying a-con venient forni of my invention; F ig. ll is a front elevation of the machine shown in Fig. l0; Fig. l2 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevationof the machine shown in Figs. l0 and l1; and F ig. 13 is a perspective View of the auxiliary plane and its supports shown in Fig. 1l, including additional 'plane surfaces.

The form of this invention shown in Figs.

wherebyv y l to 6 inclusive, conveniently comprises a monoplane type of `liying machine, to the main frame 14 of which is attached the aeroplane, comprising the laterally extending wings 16, which may be dat or curved as desired. The main frame 14 is provided with the rearwardly extending frame 17, which supports the vertically and horizontally extending rudders 18 and 19 respectively, said rudder 18 being suitably pivotcd on the vertical axis 20, and the rudder 19 beingr pivoted on the horizontal axis 21.

The rudder 18, which is actuated to steer the machine, and thereby determine its course, is arranged to be controlled by the connectors 23 and 24, and the rudder 19, which is actuated to regulate the angle of incidence of the aeroplane Wings is controlled by the connectors 25 and 26, all of which connectors extend to a lconvenient position with respect to the'aviators seat 28, and are connected to be actuated by the hand levers V30 and 3l, in any convenient manner.

The machineis arranged to be conveniently propelled in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2, by the screw propeller 33, -W-hose shaft 34 is horizontally journaled in suitable bearings 35 in the frame 14, and connected to be driven by a suitable motor 36, suspended in the frame of the machine.

Inbrder that the aviator may maintain lateral stability oli-the machine, auxiliary relatively movable planes or Wing tips 38 and 39, are provided at or near the opposite sides of the aeroplanes or Wings 16. Said auxiliary planes 38 and 39 are pivotally connected at the opposite endsof the levers or supports 40 and 41, which latter are respectively pivoted to the frame 14, for oscillation on the respective trunnions 42 and 43.

As best shown in Figs. 1 and 4, the planes 38 and 39 are normally maintained in an intermediate position extended from the plane 16, and as best shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the planes 39 are connected by the cord or other suitable connector 45 and its branches 46, said connector passing over suitable pulleys 47 and 48, and its branches passing over the pulleys 49 and 50. The auxiliary plane 38 at each side of the plane 16 is connected at its rear corners by a cord" or connector 52 and its branch 53, which respectively pass over the pulleys 55 and 56 and are connected with the rocker arm 58. Said rocker arm 58 is controlled by the hand lever 59, which is located near the aviatorls seat 28, and said lever and rocker ari: are connected by the rock shaft 60.

v The shifting of the hand lever 59' toward the lett with respect to Fig. 2 projects vthe auxiliary plane 38 at the right hand side of said figure forwardly and relatively shifts tl r auxiliary plane 39 at the same side, b: :kward until the supports 40 and 41 assu 1e a substantially vertical position as indicated in Fig. 5 of the drawings. By the connection above described the .movement of the auxiliary planes 38 and 39 at one side 0f the plane 16, `conteniporaneously shifts theV auxiliary planes 3S and 39 at the otherside -Will simultaneously Withdraw the auxiliary planes at the opposite side of said plane, and that by supporting said auxiliary planes yupon the pivoted supports 40 and 41 'as shown in Fig. 1, said auxiliary planes 38 and 89 are constantlyr maintained in a substan tially parallel relation to the aeroplane 16 and consequently at the same angle of inci dence to the direction of travel of the me# chine, irres ective of their relative projected or retracte -positions', so that as may be observed, the Weight supporting surface at the opposite sides of the machine, is contemporaneously increased and decreased respec# tively.

lfurthermore, when drawn close to the aeroplane or Wings, the wing tips are shielded so that no greater active supporting sur-- face is presented to the air than were the Wings alone present; when extended, hewever, the Wing tips are projected in Contact with the free air, and exert a lifting effect proportionate to their size.

The form of this invention shown in Figs. 7 to 9 inclusive, illustratesamonoplane type ot' machine similar to' that shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive and comprises the'frame 65, to which is attached the aeroplane, having the laterally extending Wings 67. -The lateral ico stability ot the machine shown( in said ligbyl the links 71 with the lever 72, whereby any movement of said lever 72 in either .a

direction conteniporaueously shifts one of the auxiliary planes or Wing tips`68 out.- Wardly, and withdraws the other Wing tip 68, to respectively increase the Weight supporting surface of that side of the aeroplane wings 67, where the tyingy tip is extended,

and to decrease the weight supporting sur? face of the other side et said aeroplane Wing 'Where the Wing tip `is Withdrawn. v

This invention may be conveniently adapted to a flying machine of the biplane type, illustrated in Figs. 10 to 13 inclusive,

wherein the frame? 5 carries the upper and lower aeroplane's 76 and 77 respectively, which, asbest shown in Fig. 12, are curved A of travel of the machine.

verscly with respect to the direction bf'- trevel ci' the machine, but maintained by the movable stencliions 8O and 8l in' substentinlly' parallel relation with the eeroplanes 76 and 77, sind consequently et the same angle of incidence with respect to the direction of travel of the machine, irree spective of its position with respect to seid aeroplane. Seid eeroplenes ..278 arev conveniently connected by the cordor connector 85 end its branches S6, respectively passing over the pulleys 89 end 90, end seid planes ere respectively connected-et their inner corners with the controlling lever '92, by the cords or connectorsn 93 sind 94, respectively passing around the pulleys 95 and 96,7Wliicl.

are disposed et the opposite extremities of the frame 75.`

By the connections 'above described it may be seen that the auxiliary planes 78 are con tempereneously shifted in the saine direction transversely to the direction of the motion of the machine, by eny movement of the controlling lever, 92, so that when one auxiliary plane 78cr instance at the right hand side ryith respect to Fig. 'll is shifted outwardly to'increase the Weight supporting surface, ausili-ary piene 78 at the opposite side of the machine is withdrawn, and tliereby shields that portion of the aeroplane which it underlies.

ln the perspective View shown in Fig. 13, the frame of the auxiliary plane 78, comprising the movable stenchions 8G end Si, is "provided with the subst-.initially vertical 'Webs or planes 98 disposedin angular relation with respect to the auxiliary planes l and the planes T6 und 77, `whereby the adjustable area ci the supporting surface is augmented.

ln order to more fully understand the working of the 'machines above described, suppose that, owing to an eddy current in the nir, or other disturbing finiiuence, the air pressure upon one side or' the machine, for

instance the right, suddenly becomes less than that upon the left, with the result that lthe machine tilts to the right upon an exis parallel with the direction of Hight of the machine; `whereupon the controlling leverY may be shifted to the right to extend the Wing tip 'et that side and Withdraw the Wing tip at the other side, thus increasing the supporting surface upon the side where the pressure is low, and decreasing seid surface on the side Where the pressure is high, until the pressures at the cpfrsite sides of the machine become 'equelieed and the equilibrium if the machine is restored. l'Ylien the disturbing influence returns to normal con 7 dition, and the aeroplane Anos been brought .shifted back to their vnormal pos beck to eren keel, the wing tips tney be then ions, so es to equalize the areas on both sin l o machine. lt is obvious that in the errsnge- 75 ment shove described, the angle ci incidence presented by the auxiliary' planes or Wing tips to' the nir in the direction of the motion of the machine is substantially identical with the angle of incidence of the eeroplencs .in

orjwings; .it therefore vfollows that the Yer-A ticel and horizontal components or the pressure hold the seine relation to each other on both sides et all times, oe-th es rec" rds the wing tips and the mein Wings ratio is uneifected by any Increment iinparted to the Wing tips by thecontrnlling lever. Hence when the Wing tip on one side is extended, and that on the other side Witlr upon both sides, the horizontal component of the air pressure is also equelized upon the two sides, and therefore all tendency for the machine to swerve from its course is sub ten tiully negligible. e

it is obvious that Wings and auxiliary tips as herein described may form the belencing means in other classes of flying nur chines. For instance, in machines of the polyplnne type or in machines of the type loo wherein the Weight supporting surface is not- Wholly relied upon for maintaining the machine suspended in the air, and, therefore itis not desired to limit this invention to theprecise details ci construction and arrange-105 ment herein set forth, es it is obvious that various niodiicstions may be made therein Without departing from the esentinl tentures of my invention as dened in the appended, claims.

Jlowing claim:

l. An eeroplenehaying Ineens for increasing the supporting surface et one side and contemporeneously decreasing the support 1715 planesinto position spaced from the surface of said eeropleneto increase thes supporting surface and to be shifted adjacent to the surface o said aeroplane and shielded thereby, end means connected to contemporanei` ously actuete seid auxiliary pien s relative.

dreun in e unlizin'r the su ortiiw effect so v E: a

Y "11G thus described my inyenticinil CIK to said aeroplane and contemporaneously extending one thereover and withdrawing another into position Vto be shielded thereby.

3. In a'lying machine, the combination with an aeroplane having laterally extending rigid wings, of auxiliary planes vertically movable relative thereto, in the direction of flight onparallel pivoted supports.

4. Inaffiying machine, the combination with an aeroplane. of parallel supports pivoted to saidiaeroplanmand auxiliary planes pivotally carried by said supports and eooperative with said aeroplane at'the ends thereof to relatively inorease'and decrease its weight supporting surface at predetermined localities.

5. In a flying machine, the combination with rigid aeroplanes, of auxiliary planes movable with. re'spect thereto and disposed above and below saidrespective aeroplanes, pivoted supports for said auxiliary planes, arranged to be shifted to move said auxiliary planes oppositely relative to said aeroplanes and to maintain said planes in substantiallyY parallel relation irrespective of their relative positions.

A 6. In a flying machine, the combination with aeroplanes, of relatively vertically movable auxiliary planes disposed. below and above said aeroplanes, pivoted supports for said auxiliary planes arranged to maintain said auxiliary planes substantially parallel with respect to said aeropla-nes, irrespective of their relative positions.

7. In a flying machine, the combination with rigid aeroplanes, of auxiliary planes disposed below and above said aeroplanes and normally supported in a position extended therefrom, and means arranged to reciprocate one of said auxiliary planes upward and the-other auxiliary plane downward with respect to said aeroplanes, and

to shift said auxiliary planes adjacent to said aeroplane to be shielded thereby. x

'8. In a flyingA machine, the combination with rigid aeroplanes, of relatively movable .auxiliary planes disposed below and above said aeroplanes and normally supported in spaced relation thereto, means arranged to shift said auxiliary planes in opposite directions into adjacent relation to said aero,-

laeaaae plane to be shielded thereby, and means operative to maintain said auxiliary planes in parallel relation with said aeroplane irrespective of their position.``

9. In a vflying machine, the combination with aeroplanes of relatively' movable auxiliary planes disposed above and below said aeroplanes, pivoted supports arranged to maintain said auxiliary planes substantially parallel with respect to said aeroplanes irrespective of their positions.

10. In a flying machine, the combination with an aeroplane, of auxiliary planes movable with respect thereto, pivoted supports for said auxiliary planes, movable to project them into relatively different planes parallel with said aeroplane, means arranged to shift said supports to project one auxiliary plane and to withdraw the other auxiliary plane with respect to said aeroplane, and arranged to shift said supports to retract said planes alternately to a position adjacent to said aeroplane and shielded thereby.

11. In a flying machine, the combination iliary planes, parallel ivoted supports for said auxiliary planes isposed local to the lateral extremities of said aeroplanes, arranged to maintain said auxiliary planes in substantially parallel relation with respect to said aeroplane irrespective of their relative positions other upward relative tosaid aeroplane to respectively increase and decrease the weight supporting surface at the respectively opposite end portions of said aeroplane.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 17 day of February A. D. 1910.

EDWARD WANTON SMITH.

Witnesses:

FREDERICK A. BLoUN'r, ALEXANDER PARK.

75 with aeroplanes, of relatively movable auxf 

